How to keep poisonous snakes away
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I moved from Vt to Va. Love it but there are copperheads and black snakes. How can I make sure they do not come on my property? Something that really works?
11 answers
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Not much you can do except keep the rodent population down. That's their meal. Pest control company's can do that, but nothing else about snakes. Poisons don't work on them.
Carolyn
on Jul 26, 2015
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Understandable that you don't want copperheads on your property. However, you might want to encourage the black (rat) snakes. They eat the same things as copperheads (they eat all manner of vermin) and are more mobile hunters, thus cutting down the food supply for copperheads. Having a population of black snakes will help discourage the copperheads. Black snakes are not venomous and will not hurt people if left alone. One other thing that will help keep them away from your house or other outbuildings is to be sure to keep the area around the buildings clear. The snakes love to hide in woodpiles, bushy plants, etc. Best of luck!
PennyB9
on Jul 26, 2015
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You could try "Snake Away" we purchase it at our local Feed Store and it worked for us, granted we are in the city but the river is only about 4 blocks away (as the crow flies).
DeeDee Byrnes
on Jul 26, 2015
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as Penny states above, you want black snakes around because they kill copperheads! Snakes go in tall grass, wood piles, and in wooded areas Black snakes eat rodents and other small critters and are not dangerous to humans or animals. I have lived in VA for almost13 years now have yet to run into a copperhead. The copperhead also likes moist areas and near ponds and lakes (I live on a reservoir) and people have seen them near the water. I have heard snake away works but also take care of any piles of brush, junk, and keep areas mowed where you walk.good luck
The Garden Frog with C Renee
on Jul 26, 2015
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I was pretty much going to say avoid heavy mulching, tall grasses, forested areas, keep things from over growing, Snakes are going to be out there. they do have favorite places. Wood piles are a big one. When I lived in Pennsylvania, we kept the wood pile far from the house. We warned the snakes with a shovel tapping the pile before we ever reached for any logs. Copperheads are everywhere up there. I am happy to say I never had a problem. They don't want to bite us, they prefer to be left alone. I always carry my shovel when gardening.
Lee Cunningham Green
on Jul 26, 2015
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Try putting moth balls around the edge of your property. There is an expensive product called Snake Away we have found woks well but the main ingredient is the same as mothballs. Keep out of reach of pets and kids by putting in small mesh bags or old panty hose and hanging out of reach.
Cherie
on Jul 27, 2015
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We have 4 rescued cockers, so I put about 4 or 5 mothballs inside a small mesh bag and hang them from the fence or in tall bushes well above their height, about every 6 feet or so around our property. The smell is strong the 1st day or two, and then seems to disappear for humans but still keeps the snakes away. I replace them every other month unless we get a deluge of rain!
Cherie
on Jul 28, 2015
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moth balls
Ben2008397
on Jul 29, 2015
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you have to replace them after rain, I spread mine around the yard, it helps
Ben2008397
on Jul 29, 2015
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Thanks to everyone:):)
KATHLEEN QUINLAN
on Jul 29, 2015
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Keep the black snake. It is not poisonous and will kill other snakes plus mice and rats. They are shy and will run away if they can. Try to look at this snake as a friend. They are.
Claudia Collette Scarbrough
on Apr 10, 2016
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